Daniel Craig Wants Women & Racially Diverse Actors To Play James Bond After Him

There’s been a whole lot of chatter about who should take on the role of 007 when Daniel Craig ultimately hangs up his swanky James Bond suit and the British actor reckons a female / racially diverse spy might just be the way to go.

Craig told U.K.’s The Mirror that he agrees with the notion that the next person to inhabit the role should absolutely be a more diverse actor, whether it be an African-American or a woman.

“I think that ­everybody should be ­considered,” Craig said. “Also for women and for African-Americans, there should be great parts anyway, across the board.”

Following speculation that Craig would depart the role, punters called for Idris Elba, Emily Blunt or Gillian Anderson to take it on.

The actor then confirmed that he had signed on for the next film, Bond 25 but admits that he will not be playing the super spy forever, paving the way for a different star to take his place.

Craig will play James Bond for the fifth time in the highly anticipated film although doubt was cast over his return after he told Time Out in 2015 that he was “over it at the moment.”

“I’d rather break this glass and slash my wrists,” he told the publication. “We’re done. All I want to do is move on.”

But the actor confirmed he’d be back while on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in August 2018, telling Colbert, “I always wanted to, I wanted a break.”

Bond 25, which is currently in production, stars Craig opposite Rami Malek, who signed on as the villain.

The two are joined by Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch, Game Night and Maniac‘s Billy Magnussen, Blade Runner 2049‘s Ana De Armas, David Dencik and newcomer Dali Benssalah.

Cary Joji Fukunaga (Netflix’s Maniac) is set to direct the movie after the original director, Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), dropped out in August 2018.

Because of the delay, the movie will now be released next year. Filming is scheduled to begin at London’s Pinewood Studios on March 4, 2019.